CBD: Does it work? Is it safe? Is it legal?

Since cannabis (CBD) was legalized in Canada in 2018, there has been increased interest in its variants, CBD and THC, for their perceived calming or soothing effect. However, it comes with potential side effects and risks users must know to make sound decisions. CBD stands for cannabidiol, and THC stands for tetrahydrocannabinol, both of which are substances found in cannabis plants. Because THC can produce significant euphoric and pleasurable effects, there’s a chance that marijuana users will continue to seek out the gratifying drug-induced experience. As a result, dependency or frequent use can occur as a result of elevated dopamine levels and lowered tolerance. Essentially, the continuous flood of dopamine caused by THC can result in the brain becoming less responsive to dopamine signals, requiring higher amounts of the substance to achieve the same level of pleasure or reward.

Can CBD Help Fight Addiction?

These effects are generally mild and short-lived and are more likely to occur when high amounts of CBD are ingested, underscoring the importance of using high-quality products with clear serving size guidelines. As the use of CBD has become more widespread, so has the research regarding it. Studies and clinical trials consistently indicate that CBD is not addictive. Using the CBD oil, the patient was able to maintain nonuse of marijuana. With a subsequent, gradual decrease in anxiety, the patient was able to maintain a regular sleeping schedule (Table 2).

Are There Any Risks Associated With CBD Use?

If you are thinking about trying CBD, discuss it with your doctor first. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider about any other medications you might be taking in order to prevent any potential drug interactions. Watch for side effects and don’t take more than the dose that your doctor recommends. While CBD does not appear to be addictive and may have some benefits, one large-scale review concluded that there was not enough evidence to support the use of CBD as a treatment for mental health conditions. While CBD does not have psychoactive properties, it does have a variety of effects.

A recent study of 84 CBD products bought online showed that more than a quarter of the products contained less CBD than labeled. Unlike THC, another main cannabinoid, CBD is not considered psychoactive and won’t produce the same mind-altering effects. The patient reported being less anxious and sleeping better since taking the CBD oil. He reported not using any marijuana since starting the CBD and was proud of his accomplishment of getting a job as a self-employed driver and continuing with teaching chess to children. A possible weakness of the study is the fact that the patient’s total nonuse of marijuana was self-reported, and the reliability of his reporting could be suspect. However, the patient made significant gains in taking responsible actions and presented fewer erratic and disorganized behaviors.

Other substances

• They risk missing a proper diagnosis that could be more serious and even life-threatening.
• Those who try to kick their habit can experience severe, sometimes life-threatening withdrawal symptoms, including tremors, pain in the bones and muscles, throbbing headache, nausea, vomiting, and depression.
• Many products add extras like melatonin to help you sleep, vitamin C to boost immunity, or turmeric to fight inflammation.
• Cannabidiol (CBD), the second most abundant component of cannabis, is thought to modulate various neuronal circuits involved in drug addiction.
• Thus, additional studies are warranted to further explore the therapeutic potential of CBD in addictive disorders regarding its pro-neurogenic as well as neuroprotective properties.
• Interestingly, CBD abolishes memory impairment and microglial reactivity induced by nicotine withdrawal (Saravia et al., 2019).

So, if you turn to CBD oil every time your anxiety is triggered, and it gives you relief, your brain is laying down a memory that this is the solution to anxiety. They tested this by giving various dosages of CBD to people who frequently smoke marijuana compared to a placebo. According to a study from 2017 that was published by the Journal of Drug and Alcohol Dependence, there weren’t any signals of abuse liability for the use of CBD oil.

If you are taking other medications, CBD can impact their efficacy, and your doctor may need to reevaluate the dose you are taking. Like gummy bear candies, CBD gummies come in a wide range of fruity flavors. These products often make different health claims, such as helping you sleep, detoxifying your body, or relieving pain, but there isn’t any research to support these claims. Farm Bill was passed, federal law removed hemp-derived products from the Drug Enforcement Agency’s list of Schedule 1 substances. Although the Farm Bill had no effect on state-level cannabis programs, it led to a “hempslosion” of sorts, giving licensed growers the green light to cultivate and transfer hemp-derived products across state lines for commercial purposes. It’s still a highly regulated crop in the United States, though, with serious provisions.

Side Effects of Taking too Much CBD

Ren et al studied the postmortem brain of rats and found that CBD normalized the heroin-induced changes in CB1 receptor mRNA expression and AMPA GluR1 in the nucleus accumbens, even after 2 weeks of treatment. More studies are needed to clarify the exact mechanisms through which CBD influences addictive behaviors, in addition to the endocannabinoid, glutamatergic, and serotoninergic systems. These mechanisms may well be different for each substance of abuse and each addictive phase. Several studies in animals and humans demonstrated the absence of rewarding properties (Parker Sober living house et al., 2004; Katsidoni et al., 2013; Babalonis et al., 2017; Schoedel et al., 2018). Indeed, recent studies carried out in mice in our laboratory further demonstrate that CBD is not an addictive substance.

• CBD, however, doesn’t affect the same endocannabinoid receptors in the brain.
• Consumers should also use caution when buying over-the-counter CBD products because they may contain contaminants and doses higher than what’s indicated on the label, an especially dangerous situation for children.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) issued an extensive report about the safety and efficacy of CBD, acknowledging its high safety profile.
• Generally speaking, the potential benefits of CBD products can be obtained through other, more reliably safe and effective means.
• At this point, you’re probably wondering if CBD has the potential to be addictive.
• Our precisely formulated CBD tablets address many common health conditions with natural ingredients for safe & effective relief.

Learning more about addiction and the various treatment options can be a good first step, so consider reaching out to your doctor or a trusted loved one and sharing more about what you’re going through. Some people have different definitions of addiction, and it can impact individuals differently. If you’re considering taking CBD for the first time, you may want to learn more about addiction and if it could result from CBD use.

Is It Safe to Use CBD Oil Every Day?

That’s in part because CBD-related research in the United States was tightly restricted until 2018, when the U.S. A 2018 World Health Organization report called CBD “generally well-tolerated, with a good safety profile.” It also found that CBD was not addictive. Here’s what experts have to say about CBD’s risks and benefits — and where they see CBD use headed in the future. Last year, 64% of U.S. adults reported trying a CBD product — and nearly half of those did so at a doctor’s suggestion, according to a Forbes Health survey. In 2022, the CBD market was valued at $18 billion, and it’s expected to more than triple in the next 10 years.

CBD, however, doesn’t affect the same endocannabinoid receptors in the brain. As a result, cannabidiol doesn’t trigger the intoxicating psychoactive effects of THC. But early data suggests CBD also can reduce feelings of tension or stress. Preliminary evidence suggests that CBD may be beneficial in reducing cannabis addiction in humans.

Understanding psychological vs physical dependence

Trustworthy options undergo third-party testing to confirm their purity and potency, free from harmful additives or contaminants. A well-documented sourcing process helps confirm if CBD comes from organically grown hemp. The 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp from the legal definition of marijuana in the Controlled Substances Act. This made some hemp-derived CBD products with less than 0.3% THC federally legal.

The use of CBD in treating drug use disorders, such as addiction to opioids, cocaine, and methamphetamine, has been the subject of several preclinical research. Even in states where marijuana is legal, there are restrictions on where CBD products are sold and how they can be marketed. This is to protect consumers by discouraging the illegal marketing of unsubstantiated health/medical claims. As of this writing, the FDA has approved only one CBD product, Epidiolex, for the treatment of rare, severe forms of epilepsy.